The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness

92. Elizabeth

In the deep autumn night, the sound of insects chirping filled the air.

This might be the last sound of these tiny lives, for they would soon pass through their brief existence, burying themselves in the footprints of winter.

Rustle—rustle—, their song was profound and lingering, like an ethereal funeral dirge.

……

“Do you have a smoke?”

Mu En came to Lorenzo’s side and patted his shoulder.

Like an old friend, with a kind expression and casual banter.

But Lorenzo looked as if he had seen a monster, trembling all over.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced down the alley; aside from him and this monster, there was no one else standing. His feet instinctively stepped back, but he accidentally stepped into a puddle.

His leather boots were instantly soaked, the thick liquid seeping into the soles of his feet.

He knew it was not a puddle; it was a pool of blood.

Now the entire alley was filled with blood, blood that was almost forming a stream.

What kind of duke’s son was this? This was a monster clad in human skin!

Lorenzo felt his heart completely consumed by fear; he clearly still had the strength to fight, yet he couldn’t even lift the broken knife in his hand.

“How… how are you so strong?”

Spoiled, arrogant, lacking experience, timid as a mouse, fainting at the sight of blood.

The labels he associated with the noble son seemed to have nothing to do with the man before him.

“I don’t even know how I got this strong; I was surprised myself just now.”

Mu En said as he fished out a cigarette from Lorenzo’s pocket, then pulled out a box of matches.

Mu En rarely used matches, and after several failed attempts, he still couldn’t light it.

Just when there was only one match left, he finally ignited the cigarette, eagerly taking a deep puff.

Then, he choked.

Choking badly, with snot and tears streaming down his face.

He forcefully threw the cigarette to the ground, stamping it out with his foot, cursing, “What a piece of junk, it’s impossible to smoke!”

Then, he raised his head and looked at Lorenzo, asking earnestly:

“Now, can you answer my question? Mr. Lorenzo.”

“Ask… a question? What question?”

“It’s the question from just now, Mr. Lorenzo. Are you really that forgetful?”

Mu En leaned in, staring into his eyes, asking each word with precision:

“Are you—so indifferent about your own death?”

“No!”

In front of those clear eyes, as deep as a tranquil lake, Lorenzo screamed in terror:

“I can’t die! I can’t die!”

“Can’t die?”

Mu En smiled: “Look around, everyone is dead, including your trusted aide. Just a moment ago, he begged me to spare him, saying he had a sister or something. Mr. Lorenzo, please tell me, why can’t you die?”

“I haven’t attained eternal life yet, I haven’t received the promise of eternal life from the Lord, how can I die!”

The will to survive finally overcame the fear, and Lorenzo’s stiff body began to move again.

He turned and ran.

Run!

I must escape!

I still have money!

I still have connections!

I can hide myself, even the duke won’t find me!

I want eternal life!

I’ve done so much, isn’t it all for the promise of eternal life from the Lord?

But he could only take one step.

The whole world seemed to tilt, and he saw the ground rushing towards him.

He fell, collapsing into a pool of blood.

He felt pain, pain from his ankle.

In horror, he looked back and discovered that his foot had been cleanly severed at the ankle.

Blood flowed, mingling with the pool, just like those splattered limbs from earlier, indistinguishable from one another.

“No, I can’t die yet!”

He crawled forward, using both hands, moving like a mangy dog.

Mu En did not pursue him, allowing him to crawl ahead.

Letting his blood flow, endlessly.

He turned and approached the woman whose name he didn’t even know.

She is still alive.

But she is already not far from death.

Mu En carefully turned her over, cradling her in his arms.

Then, he was at a loss.

Just as the stranger who had invited him to engage in black dealings had said, he could only be considered a nobleman seeking thrills, completely unprofessional.

He had neither healing potions nor healing magic.

He could only watch helplessly as the girl in his embrace lost her vitality bit by bit.

Perhaps it wouldn’t have made a difference even if he had brought them; with such severe wounds, it was already beyond the power of the gods to save her.

Mu En fell silent for a moment, took out a handkerchief, and slowly wiped away the bloodstains from the woman’s face.

But as he wiped, his hands began to tremble.

Because when the thick makeup was removed, and the faint freckles that symbolized youth were revealed, he realized that the one in his arms could hardly be called a woman.

She was just a girl.

“Damn it.”

Mu En suddenly felt something tearing at his heart little by little. When he focused on it, he discovered it was an endless guilt and regret.

Because of his extra kindness, he had actually caused the death of an innocent girl!

If he had known, he should have angrily chased her away at that time.

At least, she would still be alive, right?

“Sir…?”

At that moment, Mu En heard a voice as faint as a mosquito’s, very soft, so soft that he could only hear it by leaning in close.

“I’m here.”

Mu En thought for a moment, his voice returning to its previous guise, and repeated:

“I’m here.”

The girl smiled reassuringly. Mu En didn’t know if that could be called a smile; he only saw the corners of her mouth lift slightly: “As expected… it’s you.”

“Mm…”

Mu En replied, unsure of what to say.

“Sir… am I… pale now?” the girl asked softly.

“Pale.”

Mu En felt a pang in his heart and nodded vigorously: “Very pale.”

“Sir… do you like it?”

“I like it.”

“Is that so… actually… compared to being a teacher… I would rather… hear you, sir… say this sentence… even if… it’s just a lie…”

“I’m so happy…”

The girl spoke in broken phrases, and he could feel her breath growing fainter.

Yet she still smiled, not just at the corners of her mouth, but her brows, her eyes, her entire face, all unfurling like a bud ready to bloom.

Like a night-blooming cereus.

In an instant.

It was fleeting.

“You… please don’t say anymore. Let me think, think of a way to save you.”

Mu En felt his own breath starting to falter, his mind a chaotic mess.

Countless thoughts surged like a tide, then receded like a tide, leaving nothing behind.

He remembered the ancient dragon’s blood, infused with powerful vitality, but as soon as he took it out, he found that the terrifying pressure nearly crushed the girl, forcing him to awkwardly put it away.

He thought of the black book, but the black book ignored his call entirely.

He even recalled the flames of the withered king, but those flames represented pure death to anyone but him.

After all his frantic efforts, he still found himself powerless.

The duke’s son, the top student of the academy, the prized disciple of Teacher Meila—he could do nothing.

He couldn’t even save a single girl!

“Can you… tell me your name?”

In the end, Mu En could only ask softly amidst the chaos.

“…”

He saw the girl’s lips move slightly.

“What?”

Mu En leaned closer.

“My name is… Eliza.”

“…”

Mu En felt the girl in his arms suddenly become incredibly soft, like a cloud about to drift away.

The world fell silent, even the chirping of insects ceased.

The girl’s hand fell limply, no longer making a sound.

Her body grew gradually colder.

Mu En remained silent, gently laying the girl down.

He took out a thicker coat and draped it over her.

Thus, even if I have to go to a place without the sun, it won’t be cold, right?

Mu En stood up, once again gripping the pure white short knife tightly.

It felt as if he had grasped the most genuine power and authority in this world.

He lowered his head, examining the short knife, whispering softly.

“Seeing you so white, I actually want to name you something like Bai Jie, which sounds nice and interesting.”

The short knife hummed gently, as if the spirit within was expressing its dissatisfaction.

“Since you don’t like that, let’s change the name.”

Mu En’s gaze finally glanced at the girl lying quietly on the ground, as if she were asleep:

“Elizabeth… Bai, from now on, I’ll call you Elizabeth, a name like that of a princess.”

Mu En said with self-mockery: “Hehe, giving you this name always gives me a sense of shame, as if I’m taking my two-dimensional wife to fight, but forgive me, that girl has to leave something behind.”

The spirit continued to hum, but this time, it expressed joy.

Like the final stroke of a painting, as if a dragon had been given eyes, this outstanding work crafted by the great archmage Meila was now completely whole.

She would display the most terrifying sharpness in Mu En’s hands.

“Elizabeth, you must remind me often.”

Mu En stepped forward, following the two spreading blood trails, walking into the depths of darkness.

“The words ‘Duke’s son’ are nothing in the face of the fate I must confront.”

Elizabeth hummed lightly, as if in response.